Gears spins up XBL use by 80 percent

Independent research group cites Epic Games' Gears of War as reason for spike in activity on Microsoft's online service.

Gears of War has long been hyped as the holiday title to get for the Xbox 360, and so far critics' reviews agree. It's no surprise, then, that the sci-fi shooter, which was released in mid-November, has already sold more than 1 million copies and is a frontrunner for Game of the Year in many people's books.

The Epic Games-developed game also took a crown from the Xbox family's reigning king of sci-fi shooters, Halo 2, when it was recently revealed that the most-played game over Xbox Live was Gears of War. Previously, Halo 2 had owned Xbox Live, besting all other Xbox and Xbox 360 titles in online play.

With all the online fragging Gears is facilitating, it's no surprise that the game is bringing some dormant gamers out of the woodwork and onto Xbox Live. According to Sandvine Incorporated, a network traffic tracker, 80 percent more users were drawn to Xbox Live since Gears of War's first week of release.

"The effect Gears of War and other games are having on networks indicates to service providers that online gaming is not just a craze," said Sandvine CEO Dave Caputo.

Since the game went on sale November 7, the rate of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, which are required for online play, has increased more than 50 percent.

While Sandvine only pointed out Gears of War by name, it did mention that other games released that week also aided in the spike in Xbox Live users. Also released that week for the Xbox 360 were Viva Piñata, Call of Duty 3, and Tony Hawk's Project 8--the latter two of which were also released on the original Xbox.

308 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 3:29 pm PT

    I still need to play it!!

  • goez3000

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:34 am PT

    nothing can top a chainsaw straight to the dome... GoW i love u and my girlfriend loves you!

  • Rent-Boy

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 8:30 am PT

    By far the best game on the 360

  • Gamer6534

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    Gears Freakin Rocks with multiplayer.

  • YourDaddy88

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 8:34 am PT

    Hey guys - just wanted to say that GoW is one the best shooter games I have ever seen. Congrats. I have a PS3 and I'm thinking about also getting a 360 just because of this game. I don't really care about the systems, I usually go with the games.

  • DAN845

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 1:58 pm PT

    gears of war is the best

  • eyona

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 2:56 am PT

    It is the KILLER APP the 360 needed. Yes it is a simple multiplayer - albeit a very engrosing one at that. Overall the graphics shine, the story is compelling and the co-op kicks Locust a**. It doesn't take down Halo 2's roundup of multi-player mayhem and that is why it isn't completely a Halo Killer but we (who play it) love it and only keep waiting for the Update and Chapter Content for more multi-player and story mayhem. (Imagine melee with knives!) Come on - they have rights to Mortal Kombat!
    GOW RULES! Sorry PS3, not this year!

  • Hamodizzo

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 11:38 pm PT

    THE GAME SIMPLY ROCKS! Played 32 hrs str8 on a LAN tournament, placed 3rd but definately LOVED every minute of it!

  • ElitesIgnorance

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:41 pm PT

    Gears of War is just awesome multiplayer/co-op game. Get over it Resistance: Fall of Man fans!

  • NeoGamer741

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    The multiplayer is shallow, I don't get it.

  • The_MrB

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 11:12 am PT

    Not hard to believe, Gears' multiplayer is amazingly fun. Since I got it about this time last month I've probably already put fifty hours into online play, and it just keeps getting even more fun.

    By the way, even if you aren't into multiplayer, the campaign, albeit somewhat short, is an incredibly compelling and entertaining experience and makes Gears worthy of a buy even if you don't have Live.

  • CapoX

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 10:06 am PT

    GO GOW !! =)

  • Spartan070

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:45 am PT

    Nothing tops a good fragfest.

  • Dreski83

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 2:54 am PT

    Not hard to believe one bit... even tho the point about something new has this hype effect and comes and goes, I think like Halo2, Gears will keep people quietly playing and coming back to play over the next few months, maybe even years.
    Since the game itself and online is structured for quick fix gamers like myself, with stats to boot, I think its safe to say this can only build into something even more grand.

  • Jim_The_Rebel

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:35 pm PT

    well of course if a new game comes along Gears will fall down I mean GRAW was like that and when Lost Planent comes out most people will go play that rather than gears because it's NEW, another new will grab peoples attention longer than old stuff, O yeah I HATE HALO!

  • CrimsoNR3D

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 8:56 pm PT

    When Halo 3 comes out, this game will still be around. Only for the people who hate Halo though, everyone else will buy a 360 just for that.

  • lithus

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 8:53 pm PT

    Honestly...like this is news. As soon as the Downloadable context starts pouring in, everything else will put on the back burner. Newbies who waited on line for the PS3 will already be selling their wares just to get a 360 for GoW.

  • ace_rns

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 8:50 pm PT

    Gears of War is so far the best online game I ever played. The online requires talent and i know most of you halo players love to jump and sqaut while fighting and i could understand that playing a game with out swords is hard, but damn stop talking about halo3 in two months theirs going to be mods for it.

  • XlpranksterlX

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 6:01 pm PT

    damn!

  • DAZE

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    When Halo 3 hits shelves next year i predict a total wipeout of any other online game and total world domination by Microsoft!

  • Da1ShrpSh0trGrl

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    The1stFishBone you might wanna move on. We are talking about next gen games. Think big.

  • Lobezno_D

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 5:26 pm PT

    Great news, can't wait for it to increase some more!

  • TheWunGamer4Lyf

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 5:12 pm PT

    Gears of War made me get a Xbox 360 instead of waiting for a PS3

  • earlthecannibal

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 4:46 pm PT

    The hype machine that could..wow they could repackage a 3 year old game and throw in a little hype , and you guys would buy it..gears of war is a good game but can we move on! its not a system seller or anything if youve owned a pc and you dont work day shift in a cave you have played this already! and please, please stop talking about Halo 3 !

  • BigB10123

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 4:24 pm PT

    This game alone and the halo 3 trailer is giving nintendo and sony a run for their money and I read an article where sony is looking forward to the PS4 and in the future the PS3 will get full support for mouse and keyboard which equals a PC. Well I'm getting an alienware laptop so screw sony with their console for mouse and keyboard but I might get a wii since its cheap and is gonna come out with more games that I want

  • mgsninja

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 3:04 pm PT

    More people to play online with then... If only I had an Xbox 360

  • flex49

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:47 pm PT

    Daffy101
    s0ck69
    daffy 101 resistance was in production for over 2 years it had time it should have been better much less delivered than promised hmm ok how long was GOW in production..and how do u know how long it was in production?****

    hey Daffy, they were showing Resistance and Gears of War at E3 2005...that's why we know how long they've been in production

  • JLCrogue

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    The1stFishBone
    "the game is weak online perfect dark is the way to go"

    LOL, yeah right! GOW > PDZ. GOW FTW!!!

  • Daffy101

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:36 pm PT

    s0ck69
    daffy 101 resistance was in production for over 2 years it had time it should have been better much less delivered than promised hmm ok how long was GOW in production..and how do u know how long it was in production?

  • redbeef88

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:19 pm PT

    flex49 said:
    PixyMisao
    ... Meanwhile those without internet access hoping for a long epic game with a great story, are left out in the cold. ***

    You actually scored a 10 for Wii Sports and a 1 for Gears of War...Meh, what a joke!....so we all know not to listen to you, Wii fanboy.
    BTW, Everyone has internet access....how else are you typing your own biased post??? -
    LOL pixy got owned.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:09 pm PT

    I bet Microsoft are glad about this.

  • The1stFishBone

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    the game is weak online perfect dark is the way to go

  • FrostElf

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    Wewt go Microsoft...and GoW =P

  • b00003243

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:48 pm PT

    Sharvie
    GeOW is what made my friend get a 360 instead of a ps3

    so far, four friends of mine got a 360 just to play gears, and i can almost guarentee aother 2 will. And Its just been class playing online with everyone i know for a change. But I wouldnt say its the best live game, its just that everyone has it!

  • crazy_boy166

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    yeh keep it up GOW

  • flex49

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    PixyMisao
    ... Meanwhile those without internet access hoping for a long epic game with a great story, are left out in the cold. ***

    You actually scored a 10 for Wii Sports and a 1 for Gears of War...Meh, what a joke!....so we all know not to listen to you, Wii fanboy.
    BTW, Everyone has internet access....how else are you typing your own biased post???

  • Hawaii6U

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:01 pm PT

    :
    If you've never played Halo 2 on Xbox Live, you've never played Halo 2.

  • REELDIEL3

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 12:46 pm PT

    r u kidding....put a resume into Sony!!!!!!

    kaziechameleon
    i was listening to the IGN podcast for co-op and after listening to them bashing split screen i was furious. ok so 80 percent of console gamers will never take their console online, the split screen is still the most feasable method of bringing friends together to play a game. example i've never gone online with Halo2 i have probably clocked in close to 200 hours with that games system link split screen setup. i don't find online entirely appropriate for consoles just like how we pc gamers expect lan support for all online games, we console gamers expect full system link/split screen support for our online games. to that extent i feel that Co-op isn't the same if you can't turn to your friend look him in the Eye and scream at him after he sworded you in the back even though he was on your team. splist screen is the past present and future of Consoles. it is what makes me keep coming to them as feasible video game platforms and part of what makes them unique. if consoles try to be like a pc they will fial and loose what makes them good. getting two consoles and two TV's with two copies of a game is alot eisier than eight computers setup to LAN with eight game copies. see what i'm sayin games, especially multiplayer games are really striving for community, no matter how hard they try a online community will never replace real live interactive communities, like 12 college students playing HALO 2 late into the night during finals week, screaming and keeping everyone in the dorm awake. that is community and online can never steal/replicate/replace, that.

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 12:16 pm PT

    ... Meanwhile those without internet access hoping for a long epic game with a great story, are left out in the cold.

  • Sharvie

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:45 am PT

    GeOW is what made my friend get a 360 instead of a ps3

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:45 am PT

    ApisBee wrote:
    Something actually coded for the 360!

    Imagine that!

  • ApisBee

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:38 am PT

    The best part of GOW is that it's not a "port" from another system. Something actually coded for the 360!

  • Dante565

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:55 am PT

    NOOOOOOOOOOO. Oh well maybe next year Terror.

  • Terror_Circuit

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:54 am PT

    Dante565
    All i want out of life right now is Terror to turn into the Hulk and Rush Hour 3 to be a real movie. That and a few games for xmas and I could enjoy life alot.

    I think maybe a few games for x-mas is your best bet.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:38 am PT

    i was listening to the IGN podcast for co-op and after listening to them bashing split screen i was furious. ok so 80 percent of console gamers will never take their console online, the split screen is still the most feasable method of bringing friends together to play a game. example i've never gone online with Halo2 i have probably clocked in close to 200 hours with that games system link split screen setup. i don't find online entirely appropriate for consoles just like how we pc gamers expect lan support for all online games, we console gamers expect full system link/split screen support for our online games. to that extent i feel that Co-op isn't the same if you can't turn to your friend look him in the Eye and scream at him after he sworded you in the back even though he was on your team. splist screen is the past present and future of Consoles. it is what makes me keep coming to them as feasible video game platforms and part of what makes them unique. if consoles try to be like a pc they will fial and loose what makes them good. getting two consoles and two TV's with two copies of a game is alot eisier than eight computers setup to LAN with eight game copies. see what i'm sayin games, especially multiplayer games are really striving for community, no matter how hard they try a online community will never replace real live interactive communities, like 12 college students playing HALO 2 late into the night during finals week, screaming and keeping everyone in the dorm awake. that is community and online can never steal/replicate/replace, that.

  • Dante565

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:36 am PT

    All i want out of life right now is Terror to turn into the Hulk and Rush Hour 3 to be a real movie. That and a few games for xmas and I could enjoy life alot.

  • deadkingdg

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:36 am PT

    Dr_Yassam, this doesn't include french sites.

    Or that : http://www.gamedaily.com/gears-of-war/xbox-360/game-features/4457?articleID=37835

  • rbop

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:33 am PT

    Am I the only one who thinks that the campaign mode for GoW was off the charts good? I mean I haven't had as good a time playing single player since the original Halo.

  • Terror_Circuit

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:32 am PT

    Dante565
    Terror i never said it was bad! I play online gaming too you noob. But I dont like how the direction of games is going to a solely online gaming market. I still like my RPG games and what not. But I got my mutliplayer favorite too. I dont care if you dont agree with me at all. Its my own opinion I never told you to agree with me. LOL relax man. Go pwn some noobs in GOW ill be there later lol.

    Noob, I like that. I wonder how long you've been playing games my friend. The words Noob and Pwn disgust me. Why don't we just go back to saying "I'm new" and "I beat you" Anyways, you said that it was SAD(not bad) that people only care about online gaming now, and that's what I qouted you on. As far as being relaxed, dude I'm fine. What, you think I'm over here gnashing my teeth and turning green like the Hulk while reading your posts. You'd like that wouldn't you?

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